SparkNotes

Fashion trends are often weird. I mean, hello, Crocs, not to mention liquid leggings, the proliferation of positively Roman-esque sandals, and mumu-like maxi dresses. Generally speaking, the trends only look bad in hindsight—like that one time I glued a be-feathered butterfly to a cowboy hat (what was I thinking?). But I have to say one trend that's currently popping up on every starlet and in every magazine is pretty bizarre even in the present tense: the no-pants look.

Relationships are usually given a lot of fanfare in high school. It's the beginning of the great dating saga of many people's lives, and, true to form, teens far and wide want to sing it from the rooftops: “I'm dating So-and-So! Isn't it wonderful?!?!” But not everyone is so loud and public. Some prefer to keep their romantic liaisons so under wraps that not even their close friends and family members know about it. They have what you'd call The Secret Relationship.

(Cue ominous music!) Ok, so asking if you would cheat is a loaded question. I mean, I don't think anyone would openly say, "Yeah, I have no problem cheating on my S.O." It's the sort of unspeakable thing you'd never dream of doing until, suddenly, you're doing it. After all, love/lust can make you do crazy things. Even if you profess your love for your sweetie, that doesn't mean you're immune from the seductive gaze of another.

Now, I'm biased because I have been cheated on. So would I cheat on my current beau? Absolutely not.

We here at Sparknotes love summer. Love it! It's like the whole world's turned into a delightful glass of lemonade. And summer, of course, means we're finally able to spend copious amounts of time in the beautiful outdoors again. Summer is, no duh, h-o-t-t hot so everyone's wardrobe is abbreviated. And if you're at the beach, it will be even skimpier, inevitably magnifying all your body hang-ups: Ugh, my arms! Ugh, my legs! Ugh, my pallor!

I've never been an outdoorsy type gal. I'm pale and I burn like a piece of toast if I venture into the sun. So whenever we had P.E. at the pool during the last few weeks of school, needless to say, I was none too thrilled.

To be perfectly honest, the summer fling is unavoidable. It's like the chickenpox of the teenage dating world—it happens to everyone at some point. It can happen at camp, at summer school, while on vacation. I mean, really, no one is safe. There's some alchemic combination of the summer sun and a teen's raging hormones that makes the short romance blossom. Is it worth it? Um, yeah.

I'm a relationship kind of gal. I am into monogamy and serious commitment, so I was as surprised as anyone when I embarked on a flirtation with a comely guy I met at theater camp.

Judging by the comments to our 5 Signs You Need to Break Up with a Friend post, it's safe to say that we are all in agreement: Breaking up with friends blows. It's worse than breaking up with an s.o., worse than failing a major test, worse than a lot of really bad things (which is saying something). So how does one actually break up with a friend? Here are a few hints that could be a big help:

1.) Be honest. Ok, so that's a bit of a duh, but when it comes to something this tricky, honesty really counts. Be honest with yourself first and foremost:

Assigned summer reading is easily one of the most dreaded aspects of summer for students the world over. Sure, you have all that time off—time to sleep in, mucho time for friends and fun, and you might even have a vacation on the agenda. But wherever you go and whatever you do, you have a little stack of summer reading list books waiting for you at home, taunting you from the corner: "Read me! Read me!"

But summer reading doesn't have to be bad. In fact there's a good chance you'll discover an author or genre you wouldn't have found otherwise.

The word love seems easy enough to say. It's a word after all, nothing scary. You probably say it to your friends and family on a regular basis, but nothing compares to the first time you say it to a boyfriend or girlfriend. It is a surprising and honest moment that you will always remember and it will inevitably set the precedence for future relationships. But when's the right time to say it? Is there a right time?

Yeah, I know, it seems obvious that you shouldn't date someone you don't like. But when your friends are all pushing you to date someone because they think you two would make the most perfect couple ever, it's hard to say no. Especially if you haven't had a boyfriend.

Friends generally have your best interest in mind. I say generally because sometimes they will suggest you do something, and there will be a little voice in the back of your mind trying to talk you out of it. Listen to that voice, that voice knows what's up.

Breaking up is hard enough, but breaking up with a friend? Now that's a whole other mess. You have years of history together (and the first grade pictures to prove it), way more than you'd have with an s.o.. But there's no rule that says you have to be friends forever, even if you really do care about your friend. Sometimes, you grow apart, sometimes you lose touch, and sometimes, well, your friend goes crazy, and it's just time to sever ties for your own sanity. Not sure if your friendship is heading for the pits? Here are the top five warning signs:

1.) Your friend is always borrowing things from you and never returning them. While you, of course, want them to look good at the dance, and, yes, your top would be perfect, you don't have to say yes to everything. Go ahead and be a little selfish, and don't be a doormat! It isn't a cute look for anyone.